Improvement in propulsion of vessels



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U y m g l mummy/a: d 3m* @man UNITED STATES PATENT F JOSEPH S. GODFREY, OF LESLIE, MICHIGAN, ASSIGNOR TO HIMSELF, SEARS M.

LOVEBIDGE, AND JAMES IRWIN,

OF PITTSBURG, PENNS YLVANIA.

IMPROVEMENT IN PROPULSION OF VESSELS.

Specication forming part of Letters Patent No. 120,264, dated October 24, 1871.

To all whom it may concern:

Be it known that I, JOSEPH S. GODFREY, of Leslie, in the county of Ingham and State of Michigan, have invented a new and useful Improved Apparatus for Propelling Vessels on Water and I do hereby declare the following to be a full, clear, and exact description thereof.

My improvement is specially designed to propel boats and vessels with the least practicable agitation of the water, so as to prevent the abrasion of the banks in canals, and to dispense with the use of screws, paddles, or other mechanical contrivances for propulsion acting upon or in the water which floats the boat. It is, however, equally applicable to the propulsion of larger or smaller vessels under any circumstances.

In the accompanying drawing, forming part of the specification, Figure l represents a vertical section through acanal-boat, furnished with my apparatus, through the dotted line x w, Fig. 2. Fig. 2 is a top View of the boat, exhibiting the propelling apparatus. Fig. 3 is a front elevation of the bow of the boat, showing the mouths of the main pipe.

My apparatus is operated by means of a centrifugal pump or pumps, which draw the water from the bow of the boat through a pipe or pipes extending longitudinally through the vessel, and force the water out through a pipe or pipes at the stern, thus effecting the motion of the vessel through the water by the double operations of suction and repulsion, the suction of the water through the opening or openings of the pipe at the bow having the effect not only of drawing the boat forward through the water, but also of removing the resistance of the water at that point, and the forcible ejection of the columnwater at the stern acting mechanically against the water in the canal or river to propel the boat, and also acting to impel it forward by reaction. This operation, though previously known, I propose to carry out by the improved means hereinafter described.

To enable others skilled in the art to construct and use my apparatus, I will proceed to describe its construction and operation.

In the drawing, A is a canal-boat or other vessel. On the cross-timbers at the bottom of the boat is secured a main pipe, B, which extends longitudinally inside of the vessel to within a short distance of the bow and stern. At the front end it branches into two iiaring extensions, C C, which pass through the bow but do not project beyond its outer surface, and are open to the water. The Haring mouth of each of these branch pipes C C is covered with a grating to prevent the entrance of sticks or other floating rubbish, or sh, which may be drawn into the main pipe B, and thus choke the pipe or injure the pumps. rIhe mouths of the pipes C C are situate below the water line of the boat. At the stern end of the main pipe B it connects with a cross-pipe, D, which enters, at each end, the casing of a centrifugal pump, E, the shaft of the pumps being operated by means of a steam-engine driving the drums F F at the extremities of the horizontal pump shaft. The outiiow pipes G G from the pumps pass out of the vessel at the sternone on each side of the rudder-a little below the water-line of the vessel.

The operation of my improved apparatus is obvious. The water at the bow of the vessel is continually being sucked in through the iiaring mouth or mouths of the main pipe B, which prevents the ripple caused by the cutting of the water by the bow of the boat and at the same time draws the boat forward, while the force of the outiiowing water, even if emitted above the water-line, forces the vessel forward, and if below the water-line acts with still greater power and with less commotion of the surrounding water.

rlhe apparatus may be so arranged, by obvious modiiication, as to have a stream of water ejected at the bow of the vessel whenever desired to stop or retard the progress of the vessel, the main propelling apparatus being stopped.

I am aware that it has been proposed to arrange paddle-wheels in connection with a main trunk extending directly through from end to end of the boat, so that the paddles shall act on the direct through-iiowing current; but the apparatus I have described is superior to this in giving a more economical and effective application of the power, the Water entering the pump easing in the axial line of the pump and passing out at the periphery.

Having thus described my improvement7 Wh at I claim as my invention7 and desire to secure by Letters Patent, is-

A Water-trunk or passage7 B D7 leading from the bow of the vessel to the oase of a centrifugal pump, and entering the oase at the axis of the pump7 in combination with a Water-passage, G, from the periphery of the pump-ease to the stern of the boat, substantially as described.

In testimony whereof I, the said JOSEPH S. GODFREY, have hereunto set my hand.

JOSEPH S. GODFREY.

Witnesses:

THos. B. KERK,

J oHN H. BAILEY. (-139) 

